BREXIT: What happens next and when will the no deal vote take place?

BREXIT: What happens next and when will the no deal vote take place?

THE rejection of Theresa May’s Brexit deal for a second time leaves the country in turmoil with just 17 days to the scheduled break from Brussels.

Events over the next two days will have a major impact on how, when – and if – the UK leaves the European Union.

Credit: PA graphics

What is happening in Westminster?

MPs will vote today on whether they want to leave the European Union without a Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration – a no-deal Brexit.

The Prime Minister warned that a no-deal scenario would be “bleak”, with a “significant economic shock”, the loss of security co-operation with Europe and the prospect of the break-up of the UK as support for Scottish independence and a united Ireland could increase.

Should MPs reject that, there will be another vote on whether Parliament wants to seek ​an extension to Article 50 – delaying the UK’s departure beyond the current March 29 deadline.

But Mrs May stressed that would not resolve the divisions in the Commons and could instead hand Brussels the power to set conditions on the kind of Brexit on offer “or even moving to a second referendum”.

What time will the no deal Brexit vote take place?

The House of Commons will have Prime Minister's Questions at 12pm today, Wednesday, before Chancellor Philip Hammond is billed to present the Spring Statement at 12.45pm.

After this, at 2.30pm the motion on no-deal Brexit will be put forward.

The vote could take place any time after this but national reports suggest it will likely occur in the early evening.

How could Brexit be delayed and for how long?

To secure an extension to Article 50, Mrs May would need the support of the 27 other EU states.

They are likely to agree to an extension as long as there was a prospect of a deal being reached – or a referendum or general election which could change the political landscape at Westminster.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said that Brexit should be completed before the European elections which take place between May 23 and 26.

“If the UK has not left the EU by then, it will be legally required to hold these elections,” he said.

If a longer extension was sought, that would mean taking part in the elections, something likely to fuel Eurosceptic anger – and potentially see Nigel Farage standing for the new Brexit Party.

Who is supporting an extension?

Tory former Brexit minister Steve Baker has tabled a “Malthouse Compromise” amendment to Wednesday’s motion with Tory colleagues which would seek extension of Article 50 until May 22.

The amendment calls for the Government to “seek an extension of the Article 50 process to 10.59pm on May 22nd 2019, at which point the UK would leave the EU”.

Thereafter, it says, “in a spirit of co-operation and in order to begin discussions on the Future Relationship, the Government should offer a further set of mutual standstill agreements with the EU and Member States for an agreed period ending no later than 30th December 2021”.

Will the Prime Minister seek further changes in Brussels?

Mr Juncker was clear during his meeting with the Prime Minister in Strasbourg that there was no more room for movement.

“In politics, sometimes you get a second chance. It is what we do with this second chance that counts. Because there will be no third chance,” he said.

“There will be no further interpretations of the interpretations; and no further assurances of the re-assurances.”

But a European Council summit on March 21 could give Mrs May one last chance to persuade her fellow leaders face-to-face that she needs extra help to get a deal over the line.

So what happens on March 29?

Impossible to say at this stage. If a deal is somehow reached and legislated for then although the UK will formally leave the EU at 11pm, very little will change as a transition period will smooth progress to the UK’s new future.

If there is a delay, the UK will still be in the European Union until the extension period expires.

But if there is a no-deal Brexit, things are a lot more uncertain – the Government has been ramping up preparations to try to prevent shortages of food and medicine amid fears that increased bureaucracy will clog up key ports where goods arrive from the Continent.

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